working-offshore: Courses and Qualifications

Training and Development

Introduction
The oil and gas industry is one of the most highly regulated industries in the world when it comes to safety. This is a high risk industry with strict safety regulations to ensure the safety and well being of all offshore oil rig workers and the engineering equipment associated with these rigs. There are many training courses and qualifications which oil rig workers can undertake. OPITO govern a range of training courses and qualifications, for the highly skilled workforce in the offshore industry.
Mandatory Courses
To work in the North Sea there are some certificates and oil rig training that is essential, an offshore survival course (BOSIET) must have been completed or Norwegian equivalent (OLF). A medical is needed for work in the offshore industry; you can attend an oil industry offshore medical at various specialist centres ie Abermed who have centres across the UK, some local GPs undertake the offshore medical too.
Everyone working offshore in the UK sector of the North Sea must follow the same offshore survival course (BOSIET).
Basic Safety Induction and Emergency Training (BOSIET) a brief description on what this involves, normally three days duration, includes:

A briefing about the offshore industry
Helicopter escape training: (view video below)
Personal survival training
The use of Totally Enclosed Motor Propelled Survival Craft or lifeboats (TEMPSCs) and liferafts
Post escape first aid
Fire fighting (the use of basic extinguishers and self-rescue breathing apparatus)
Permit to work system
Emergency Breathing Systems (EBS)

You may choose to pay for your own offshore survival and medical in the hope of securing a job on an oil rig, although completion of the survival and medical are not a guarantee of getting a job. If you are a particularly skilled worker with relevant onshore experience some companies may invest in sponsoring you through the offshore qualifications.
Further Courses and Qualifications
It is important to consider you career development and qualifications if you are thinking of a career on an oil rig. You are most likely to secure a job if you have relevant experience together with the right qualifications, which will be recognized within the oil and gas industry ie Slinger Banksman, OPITO rigging certificates and LOLER for Riggers, together with NVQ level 3, Helideck refueling and landing for Deck Crew, Apprenticeships for Mechanical and Electrical Technicians, Compex for Electricians and Instrument Technicians, PF010 the flange make-up certificate for mechanical technicians, IRATA for rope access people, Welding codings, Emergency Response certificates would make you more useful on the rig.
For further information go to our training centre section of our website.

View the Latest Training Videos …

Helicopter Escape Training Video

Petrofac Training Video

Further Courses and Qualifications
Some examples of some further courses to further your offshore career are; Greenhand training, NVQ level 3, Slinger Banksman Training, All OPITO approved courses etc.
For further information go to our training centre section of our website.